Workplace first aid requirements

If you run or manage a workplace in Spain — an office, shop, construction site or factory — the law requires you to have enough trained first-aiders on your staff, ready to help a colleague in an emergency.

An employer duty — to rescue a colleague

Workplace first aid is not a job qualification: it is the employer's duty to appoint and train enough first-aiders, scaled to headcount and risk level, so someone can act immediately if a colleague is injured. The exact number and rules depend on the regulations that apply in Spain.

What the law requires in Spain

Spain governs occupational health and safety through national legislation that requires employers to provide first aid in the workplace.

The regulation sets no mandatory content or duration; first-aid training including a practical component is expected. Theory may be completed online, with the practical assessed in person.

Region specifics

• The employer must arrange relations with external services (emergency medical care, rescue) to ensure speed and effectiveness.

Why it matters

A workplace emergency can happen at any time. When it does, the difference between a positive outcome and a tragedy often comes down to whether someone nearby is trained to respond. Having certified first aiders on staff isn't just a legal requirement — it's an investment in your team's safety.